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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) selection of seven EPA-funded Community Initiatives for Transportation Equity (CITE) projects totaling just over $370,000. Spanning seven states, this competitive funding will support several of the coalitions in VTO’s Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) partnership in implementing community-driven transportation projects that reduce transportation costs, improve air quality, and expand access to innovative transportation technologies. Coalitions are uniquely positioned to achieve impactful transportation solutions that meet unique community needs due to their long-standing local relationships and community engagement training they can leverage.
Over the past two years, DOE and EPA have collaborated on innovative projects bridging the connection between advanced vehicle technologies and meaningful engagement with communities historically underrepresented in clean energy development to advance local community goals.
"DOE’s VTO has a long history of helping fleets and communities transition to electric vehicle technologies, and EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization (OCR) has experience engaging with and partnering for community-based transportation electrification with positive effects on air, water, public health, economic vitality, and quality of life for residents," said Margaret Smith, VTO technology manager. "The VTO team values the expertise that OCR brings from their decades of community revitalization work and is happy to contribute our technical expertise on new transportation technologies."
Through a novel approach to interagency collaboration rooted in leveraging the local presence of CC&C coalitions, DOE, EPA, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation implemented a pilot providing technical assistance to two communities—Gonzales, Louisiana, and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota—to help them plan for transportation electrification in ways that meet multiple community needs.
The foundation of VTO-EPA partnership provided this low-barrier opportunity for coalitions to advance equitable deployment of clean transportation through meaningful engagement. CITE funding expands access to communities and community-based organizations (CBOs) that might not have the capacity to apply for complex federal funding opportunities.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is managing the funding based on the lab’s proven experience reducing the burden on applicants and fostering transparency in the review process, as well as its strong relationship with coalitions. Coalitions awarded funding also gain access to EPA staff expertise, enabling them to expand their networks and build capacity.
To receive this funding, coalitions had to demonstrate that their proposed efforts would engage communities, align with community priorities, and enhance economic opportunities. The selected projects are summarized below:
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Coalition Name
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Project Title
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Project Summary
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Clean Transportation Coalition – Western Connecticut
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Community Informed Public Charging Experience
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Collaborate with community members to understand their experience and unmet needs related to EV charging stations to support greater access
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Drive Clean Colorado
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Community Mobility Planning (CoMP) for Housing Authorities in Semi-Rural Colorado
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Collaborate with housing authorities to develop a plan to address mobility needs for semi-rural communities through multimodal, zero-emission mobility and support implementation of solutions
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East Tennessee Clean Fuels
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Advancing Community Transportation Initiatives and Outreach in East Knoxville (ACTION East Knoxville)
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Partner and collaborate with CBOs to build out community-driven project ideas to present to decision-makers and guide the direction of a transportation action plan
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Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities and Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation
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StubHub – Seeding Unused Spaces to Provide Clean, Community-Led Transport in Disadvantaged Communities
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Work with project partners and community members to identify abandoned lots and brownfields for reuse as innovative and affordable transportation hubs serving communities in need.
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Utah Clean Cities
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Westside Wheels for Change – EV Workforce Training Initiative
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Work with community members to address transportation needs in historically redlined neighborhoods and improve accessibility to EV automotive mechanic training
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Vermont Clean Cities
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Transportation Plans for Ethan Allen Homestead and Intervale Center Farming and Gathering Spaces
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Develop community-driven transportation plans to address transportation accessibility challenges, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all community members
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Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities
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Development of Electric Vehicle (EV) and EV Charging Station Plans with the Northern Arapaho Tribe
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Develop a tribe-led, phased plan for EV replacement and EV charging station placement and installation
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Coalition projects, with the exception of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities’ and Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Transportation’s project, kicked off in Oct. 2024, with an anticipated end in 15 months or 18 months, running through Jan. 2026 or Apr. 2026. The Pennsylvania project will kick off in Dec. 2024 and run for 24 months.
"Our work with CC&C coalitions will provide capacity building assistance to communities considering how to address their local mobility priorities,” said Reyes Barboza of EPA’s OCR. “Building on previous collaboration, this shared effort will ensure the benefits of cleaner transportation options are available to communities as we continue to meet them where they are.” The partnership ultimately opens the door for much broader connection between DOE and EPA in the future. Stay tuned for updates as the projects progress.
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